"Gray skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face." - Lee Adams Leaders are expected to know it all, do it all, be present all the time, and do it all effectively. While not every leader has an extra dose of bubbly charm, the idea of "put on a happy face," in this case, means, "Please, at least LOOK like you're not miserable." Effective leaders will put in a lot of effort to take care of their team by treating them well, pushing them to take their PTO, and reminding them that, for the love of Pete, drink some water. But who is taking care of the leader? Odds are... no one. As a leader, it is up to you to take care of yourself, otherwise known as self-care. It is easy to dismiss self-care as selfish because the person in charge shouldn't go on vacation, or golfing, or reject a request to be in another meeting. How do you know you need a little self-care? We've got some thoughts on this... - Be aware of the signs of stress and don't dismiss them. Explore and analyze your feelings to take appropriate action. - Seek outside perspective and support. Consider working with a coach, therapist, or trusted individual to gain valuable feedback and advice. - Prioritize self-care without feeling guilty. Recognize that taking care of yourself is essential to leadership, just like securing your own oxygen mask before assisting others. Recommendation: ask any fit person you know if it is selfish to stay healthy. Really. What do you think they will say? What will it take for you to give yourself permission to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional needs? As the No More Leadership BS team explores, there's a lot of obstacles to self-care, but few of them are insurmountable. Whatever you have to do to take one step toward better care is a good step. The team offers insights, recommendations, and observations to help you make you your priority.